13 November 2009 08:58

Cudicini broke both wrists and injured his pelvis but Banks, who lost his right eye in a car crash in 1972 but went on to play in America's top-flight, is confident the Italian can battle back.

Long way back: Banks knows what Cudicini will be going through

'I have always admired Carlo and regard him as an excellent keeper,' he told The Sun. 'My advice to him would be to take all the time he needs to get over the injuries and, hopefully, they will heal enough for him to play again.

'I played until I was 40 so there's still plenty of time for him. Being injured in a motoring accident is not the best thing in the world and I'd like to wish him all the best. I hope he can pull through it.'

Smashed up: Cudicini's bike is loaded on to a truck after colliding with the Fiesta

However, 71-year-old Banks was shocked to hear Cudicini, 36, had been riding a motorbike.

He added: 'When I first started playing we had a little rule book and one of the things you could not do as a pro was ride a motorcycle. 'So that surprised me. I'd have thought a highly-paid Premier League player would not be allowed to ride one.'